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Thursday, April 24, 2014

They shall not grow old,As we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, Nor the years
condemn. At the going down of the sun, And in the morning We will
remember them

Anzac Day has always been a revered day in Australia and New Zealand. It's a day
when we remember the sacrificial blood shed by our soldiers in World War I at
the landing of Gallipoli and the many other theatres of war all over the world
since then. So many were our young men, some still in their late teens,
some young married men with families and some battle hardened veterans. We also
remember our brave doctors and nurses who were instrumental in saving many lives
close to the battlefronts. All belonged to either the Australian Defence forces
of Army, Navy, or Air Force. And so many were wounded both physically and
mentally.

On April 25 ceremonies are held at previous battle arenas,
besides scores of dawn remembrance services held in capital cities all over
Australia and New Zealand. Also, many smaller country towns remember their dead
comrades-in-arms. And this year marked huge crowds turning out to honour the
memories of their fathers, grandfathers, greatgrandfathers, uncles, brothers,
sons and many of their womenfolk also. My own grandfather, father, and two
uncles were in the Australian army and the air force.Men willing to die
for the cause of freedom and engage in the fight for right against evil inspires
all of us. And as it has often been said, it's not to glorify war but to honour
those who have given their lives in such a noble sacrifice. The Bible speaks of
another who was willing to give his life in this way:

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for
a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love
to us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us....For when we
were God's enemies we were reconciled to Him though the death of His Son." LEST WE FORGET

Friday, April 18, 2014

Susan was rendered sightless due to a medical mistake. Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan lapsed into a deep depression, hating the fact she was now powerless and a burden on those around her.

Her husband, Mark, was an Air Force officer who loved her with all his heart. He remembered his once optimistic wife and was determined to help her gain her confidence and independence again. His disciplined background was enough to realize that for him to accomplish this sensitive situation would be the most difficult battle he would ever face.

When she felt she was ready to return to work he drove her there every day on the opposite side of the city where he worked. And he also picked her up afterward. They both realized this was hectic and very costly. He knew he must prepare her to take the bus as she had previously. But Susan reacted bitterly. "I'm blind. How am I supposed to know where I am going? I feel you're abandoning me. This broke his heart.

Mark knew what he would do. He promised her he would ride the bus with her and help her adapt to the new environment. He promised he would do this morning and evening until she felt she could handle it herself. For two weeks Mark did this in full uniform. He taught her how to rely on her senses and befriend the bus drivers so they would save a seat for her. He believed in her and knew she would not give up her struggle.

The day came when her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his love, his loyalty and his patience. She was ready. She rode the bus successfully for a week. One day the bus driver said to her, "I sure envy you." She asked him what he meant. He answered, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected the way you are." She was puzzled until he added, "Every morning for the past week a fine looking man in a uniform has been standing across the street watching when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the road safely. He watches until you enter the building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives a salute, and walks away."
Tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks. For although she couldn't see him, she had always felt his presence. He had given her a gift far more precious than sight. She didn't need to see to believe - a gift of love that can bring light when there had been darkness.

I know someone who is always there helping those he loves.
His name is Jesus. He shines His light into our darkness.

"God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, Jesus, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Friday, April 11, 2014

Without a doubt, a first kiss is the most romantic moment in a love story, whether in a book or real life.

But what if the first kiss isn’t on the lips?

What if that first kiss is on
the cheek?

Not so romantic?

Not so fast.

A kiss on the cheek can be a great moment in any romance because it is more
of a question mark than an exclamation point. What does it mean? Where will it
lead? In a book, question marks make us turn the pages faster and stay up all
night reading. In real life, they leave us lying awake all night, wondering.

In The Thief, my heroine Nissa receives a kiss on the cheek from an unlikely hero, and it happens during a
pivotal moment in history.

Longinus is a Roman centurion haunted by death and failure. Desperate to
escape the accursed Judean province, he accepts a wager. If he can catch the
thieves harassing the marketplace before Passover, he’ll earn a transfer away
from the trouble-making Jews.Nissa is a Jewish woman with a sharp tongue and no hope of marriage. Only
with the help of Mouse, the best thief in Jerusalem, can she keep her blind
brother, Cedron, fed and a roof over their heads.When a controversial teacher miraculously heals Cedron, Longinus longs to
learn more about the mysterious healer. Instead, his journey leads him to Nissa,
whose secret will determine the course of both their futures.Unexpectedly caught up in the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus, they
wonder who this teacher is who heals others but does nothing to save himself. Is
the mercy he offers in his teachings real, or just another false promise? Can
Nissa and Longinus overcome their pasts to find a future free of their
shackles?The Thief is an evocative story of two people trapped in their
circumstances and the life-changing power of forgiveness and love.Thanks for sharing, Stephanie. I am reading The Thief right now and enjoying it immensely.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

This love story started in the summer of 1955 when Jeanette, a Minnesota schoolteacher, took a trip to Yellowstone Park and
met a Montana cowboy named Red. Ten days later, Jeanette returned to Minnesota
and started writing letters to Red.That winter, Red put a ring in his pocket, loaded a freshly shot elk in his
truck, and drove to the tiny town of Clontarf, Minnesota.

He gave the ring to
Jeanette and the elk to her father. On June 6, 1956, after a ten-day courtship
and nine months of letter writing, they married.

But that’s not the love story. The love story is the next 57 (and
counting) years.

Their love story is this:five living children, one baby in heaven, six
moves from Montana to California to Washington State, four sons-in-law, one
daughter-in-law, 17 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren (and counting), sickness and health, richer and poorer, living their faith and loving their
family every day until death parts them and they are reunited in heaven.

Rita Stella Galieh

About this Blog

It's exciting to trace God-incidences in lives, especially the unique way He leads His own children. He not only directs their paths, but also causes their path to intersect with the one person who will love and cherish them forever. This blog is written to encourage both young and mature women to pray about and wait for that special person God places in their path. Proverbs 3:5-6 holds a definite promise for a joyous and purpose-filled life. Why not share your story with me so I can publish it here? Email me: ritagalieh(at)gmail(dot)com.

Those We Love

They say the world is round,And yet I often think it's square;So many little hurts we getFrom corners here and there.There is one truth in life I've foundWhile journeying east and west,The only folk we really woundAre those we love the best.

The choicest garb,The sweetest grace,Are oft to strangers shown;The careless word,The frowning face,Are given to our own.We flatter those we scarcely know,We please the fleeting guest,And deal full many a thoughtlessBlow to those we love the best.